The Sky Police: Drones and the Fourth Amendment

TLDR: The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the targeted killing of terrorist suspects has garnered media attention as mentioned in this paper, but UAVs need not be equipped with weapons.

Abstract: Unmanned drones have proven an integral part of the fight against terrorism overseas. The Trump, Obama, and Bush Administrations have relied upon drones to target extremists, particularly in Pakistan and Yemen.2 “Drone strikes” involving the targeted killing of terrorist suspects have garnered media attention,3 but drones need not be equipped with weapons. Many drones, used for reconnaissance purposes, are outfitted with instant-feed cameras, infrared scanners, and telescopes.4 The military has used unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs,” or simply “drones”) for reconnaissance